Farmers' protest: Haryana Police mulls seizure of protesters' assets for vandalism

PTC Web Desk: The Haryana Police have initiated action to confiscate the assets of farmers allegedly involved in causing damage to public property during their 'Dilli Chalo' protest march. The police allege that farmers attempted to breach barricades at the Punjab-Haryana border, engaging in stone-pelting and disrupting law and order.

Prior to the protest, on February 13, the Haryana Police had issued notices to unions, warning of asset seizure if public property was harmed. The notices outlined the freezing of bank accounts and asset confiscation to compensate for potential losses.

During the ongoing farmers' protest, the Haryana Police reported two deaths and over 30 injuries among police officials in Ambala district. Initially, the police had threatened action under the National Security Act (NSA), but later revoked the order. According to a press release from Ambala Police, farmers persistently attempted to dismantle barriers at the Shambhu border, a key point in the 'Dilli Chalo' march. Incidents included stone-throwing, destruction of public and government property, and efforts to disrupt peace.

Approximately 30 officers were injured, one suffering a brain hemorrhage, and two lives were lost in the confrontations. The press release also expressed concerns about the use of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, and Instagram by some farm leaders to spread provocative content aiming to disturb harmony.

The farmers' protest, which commenced on February 13, was temporarily suspended for two days after a protester was killed and 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri, one of the protest sites on the Punjab-Haryana border. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a farmer leader, stated that the next course of action would be decided on Friday evening.

As the farmers' protest hangs in uncertainty, the decision on the next course of action will likely shape the trajectory of the movement. 

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